Chapter Text
After having met with Anko Mitarashi and Mighty Guy, these five ninja students went to Ichiraku's Ramen Restaurant to further discuss what their strategy needs to be. Naruto, to nobody's surprise, orders his favorite meal from Teuchi, which is pretty much the miso ramen. Ino, Chōji, and Shikamaru enjoy themselves with choices of their own. Of course, Sakura is usually on the safe side when it comes to eating at the restaurant. As Naruto eats his favorite dish, each of these young ninja propose their own questions to the blond jinchuriki student, especially now that he is feeling a bit better from what took place in terms of his family connections getting leaked. With the respected theme of ladies being first, Sakura and Ino asks Naruto the same curious question, "Now that your secret is unfortunately known by mostly all of us, we want to ask is there anything, in particular, that you know about your father at all?" Since it typically takes a good bit for the young so-called prankster to eat the way he does, these ladies had to wait anxiously until he had finished. By the time he got the chance to respond, Naruto said to them, "I honestly don't know much about either of my parents other than what Hokage-jiji [Hiruzen Sarutobi] has told me, such as when he appointed my dad to be his successor as the next Hokage. Obviously, though, I do wish I knew more about them, but that sadly may not happen anytime soon unless I can find the legacy of my dad." Both young energetic ninjas felt so bad for him that they wished they had a better chance to understand his side of the story, although they do agree that they will do whatever they can to make sure he gets to learn more about Minato Namikaze! Chōji is the next one to ask his question when it comes to what the reaction was like for the blond genin ninja as the secret came out the way it did? Naruto answers calmly in the best way he can, "You know, Chōji, when it initially happened, I thought I was having a daydream at first, but when it began to sink in, I realized that this was the worst thing that could have occurred in my life so far. Nowhere near how I was being treated by everyone as a child, but it still hurts..." All four ninja and even Teuchi, who had just come out when he heard his favorite customer confess this truth, comforted the young man as he got a bit emotional at this point. Shikamaru, being the most thoughtful of the bunch, decides to make it clear to his fellow comrades that no matter what the odds are, they will do whatever it takes to help their friend reach his goal on the journey that they all must take together!!! These determined and focused young ninja students are all on one accord, for only this moment, when putting aside their differences and desires for the climax of the Chūnin Exam Matches in order to help Naruto learn more about the legacy of his father!!! As a result, they put their hands in a team huddle, and they all collectively say one to another: "THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE FOR NARUTO UZUMAKI!!!" The young blond Genin jinchuriki ninja could only smile with trying to boggle down his emotions while telling his teammate and fellow comrades, "Thank you so much, you guys. This really means a lot!" For the next instance, a dramatic change is made when referring to a potential heartfelt conversation between two teammates in Sakura and Naruto. It will occur while the members of Team 10 [Team Asuma] are not too far ahead as all five ninja walk in the same direction as they try to figure out where to start. "Hey Sakura, I know this isn't about the journey we're about to go on, but can I please talk to you about something?" Naruto asks. The pinkette responds in a calm manner, "Sure Naruto, what's on your mind?" As he thinks to himself how important this moment of confession might be for him, the blond jinchuriki feels a bit nervous. However, he does understand how big this opportunity could be, not just for himself but for Sakura as well. Taking a deep breath, Naruto said, "I don't know how to put this, but...something told me that when I laid my eyes on you for the first time, I knew that you were special to me in more ways than one. However, I want to be honest about what happened back when we all were waiting to see which teams we would be on, respectively, if that's okay with you?" Sakura was curious to know where he was going with this conversation? The young blond ninja student took the time to remind her and said, "Do you remember when you thought that it was Sasuke who complimented and kissed you on your forehead [her insecure part]?" She replies by whispering, "Yes, I do, but why are you bringing this up to me right now, Naruto? Now might not be a good time to do so." He tells her, "The reason why is because...um...it was not actually who you thought it was," to which Sakura gives him a stunned look of shame as if she was about to punch him if he didn't take back what he just said to her. "NARUTO! You better not be lying to me, right now???!!! So, do you care to say that again before I really make you regret it with my fists???!!!" The pinkette ninja screamed in a furious tone. Ino, Shikamaru, and Chōji were as shocked as Naruto was at this point. It put some fear into the blond ninja's next few words, "But Sakura, I am telling the truth. It really wasn't Sasuke, who told you those words that complimented your forehead." This made her even more angry than ever before as she wanted to give the blond genin one last chance to redeem himself at all costs. Naruto begins to think of the way he phrased the words when referring to Sakura quickly just before her right fist hit his cheek, "You have such a large and charming forehead, it makes me want to kiss it..." Miraculously, saying this stopped the pinkette in her tracks, at least for the moment as she did hit Naruto on the cheek, but almost knocked him completely into the ground. As she takes a moment to catch her breath, Sakura is shocked at hearing that same phrase once more, but this time, it sounded just like how she heard it that particular day. The flashback is recalled as if it had just happened like it was yesterday with a dejected young Sakura sitting at a bench wondering why it was that Sasuke hadn't returned her feelings for him? At that moment, she saw a beacon of light that looked like the last Uchiha, talking to her in a way that he hadn't done up to that point [Part 1] of the anime/manga series. Then, she began to hear those same words being spoken to her as Naruto, who is disguised as Sasuke, kissed her forehead in a way that nobody ever had done before. Since that time in the back of her mind, Sakura knew that something told her that maybe it wasn't Sasuke, who complimented her after all. Although she didn't think much of it back then, the flashback came to an end; Sakura brought up the question, "Naruto Uzumaki, was that you who gave me that compliment and kiss to my forehead?" The young blond genin ninja warrior was getting helped up by Shikamaru and Ino from the ground as he told her, "Yes, it was. I am so sorry that I didn't tell you sooner, Sakura, because I knew if I came out as myself, you probably wouldn't have given me 'the light of day' when telling you how I really felt about you. I didn't want to hurt your feelings, but you were and still are so fixated on him [Sasuke] that I didn't know what else to do at that point..." Both genin ninjas could only look at each other in an emotional state, with Sakura breaking the silence, saying, "Naruto...I am so sorry that I hit you like that. When you were describing those words to me, I was so angry and just didn't understand why you would tell me that it wasn't Sasuke who complimented me that day." The emotion could not be held back, and knowing how much it confused Sakura at that moment is something Naruto really regretted as he knows he could have been honest and upfront about the situation when it initially occurred. By the time both had calmed down, they looked at each other again, reminiscing about the moment when they were young children at the scene of Sakura being made fun of by several girls. Although Ino had stepped in at this point, the blond-haired boy was standing at the scene looking at these two girls. While he looked like he wanted to help calm the situation down, the boy already knew that he had a bad reputation among the villagers who treated him in an unfair light. The young pinkette wanted to go up toward him but became reluctant at doing so. It didn't stop there because not long after this unfortunate incident, these two young ones meant each other for the first time during a class session. The young, blond-haired boy told her, "You look so pretty, beautiful, and unique to me," but sadly, no response came afterward. A young Sakura Haruno had her eyes set on another young and silent boy named Sasuke Uchiha. The young Naruto Uzumaki begins to see all of the girls go toward this young man while feeling lonely and jealous. However, you won't believe what happens next in this alternative spin-off story because by the time Ino and Sakura had finished, they went back towards Naruto's direction and wanted to know more about him. This satisfied the young blond boy so much that he was anxious to talk to them about who he is! As the flashback concludes, the pinkette genin was having a conversation with Ino, and the blond haired genin was talking with both Chōji and Shikamaru. The young pink-haired kunoichi ninja honestly expresses this to her teammate, "Naruto, I want you to know that I do accept your apology. While I am at it, I have my own confession to make to you: it was at that point where I was deeply thinking about giving up on Sasuke, but I didn't know who else to talk to. During the moment where you complimented me about my forehead when you were disguised as Sasuke, I must admit that is what rejuvenated my feelings for him. Now that I know the truth about the matter, I still need a chance for it to sink in. However, it doesn't mean we can't work something out such as possibly being in a mutual relationship, if that is alright with you?" Naruto definitely concurred with this idea, but there's one more thing for him to do for her before continuing their journey forward: he walks up toward Sakura and gives her a Pink Cherry Blossom Flower that he picked out just for her!!! The pinkette really appreciated this kind and charming deed by her now mutual romantic partner so much so that she said, "Ooh, Naruto, how did you know I like Cherry Blossoms???" He figured it would do her wonders since he asked about advice as far as what a girl would like, particularly from Ino herself since she helps her father, Inoichi Yamanaka, with the "Yamanaka Flowers" Shop ("Yamanaka Flowers," Narutopedia Wiki).
In a flashback of this instance, Naruto was walking home from another day of preparing for his next match during the Chunin Exams. Along the way, he wanted to seek advice from someone who could perhaps help him get Sakura’s attention so he could tell her how he genuinely felt about her. This was only two days before the news got leaked by the suspected culprit about the fourth hokage’s son. Ino was taking care of the flower shop for her father but noticed that the blond jinchuriki ninja student was not too far away from her house. Here’s the full dialogue context between these two friends:
[The flashback begins here].
“Hey Naruto, aren’t you supposed to be training?” Ino asked in a jokingly teasing type of way as she waited for another customer.
“Haha, very funny, Ino. I just got finished training. Besides, if the Chunin Exams are still going on, why are you here at the flower shop?” Naruto clapped back at the blonde ninja in response.
“I got eliminated from the competition by Sakura, don’t you remember, dummy??? I still want to support my teammates, but I need to fulfill my duties for my dad’s flower shop as well.
“Speaking of Sakura, I have a feeling that you are here for something that relates to her, aren’t you?” Ino asked as if she could read Naruto’s mind.
“How did you know?” The blond-haired genin student asked her with a surprised expression.
“[Ino is fixing her long ponytail to keep it nice and straight]. I have my own ways of figuring things out. Now, if you don’t mind, what is it that you want to know about Sakura-chan?” She asked.
Of course, the blonde kunoichi ninja student playfully teases by poking fun at the immature blond-haired genin ninja student about Sakura being his girlfriend. Although, Naruto did not take very kindly to that sentiment. Here’s the rest of the conversation dialogue context:
“That’s not funny, you know?” Naruto said with anger in his tone while having no idea why she would suggest it to be the case, at least right now.
“Ah come on, Naruto, everybody knows by now how you feel about Sakura. There’s no need to hide it, especially not from me,” Ino emphatically states to her friend.
“You’re right, I just wish she could look my way for once and see how I really feel about her,” Naruto admits in an honest but defeated manner.
“Well one thing is for sure: you will never get her to listen to you with this kind of attitude like you are showing to me right now.
“[She gives her friend a sigh after seeing his sad expression]. Aww, okay, I’ll do what I can to help you, but only on one condition. [Naruto is curious about what it could be?] Here’s the deal: if my advice that I give you works, you will have no choice but to assist me with this flower shop as soon as the Chunin Exam Battles are over for 2-3 weeks. Do you understand me?” Ino reiterated to the blond-haired Genin.
“WWWHHAAATTTT??? You mean I’ll have to be here with you for 2-3 weeks the whole time???” Naruto cried out.
“That’s correct, and unless you want to make matters worse, it will be for a month or maybe longer than that,” the blonde kunoichi girl reiterated in her response.
“Fine, it’s a deal, but only if Sakura and yourself will be a bit more nicer to me,” he said as a courtesy.
“Alright, you got a deal. Just know that if you do try to find a way out of this agreement, you’re going to hear it from me, okay?” Ino reminded the young blond jinchuriki ninja student.
“Sure. I can take it, dattebayo!” Naruto states with confidence.
During their brief discussion, Ino gives Naruto the same kind of advice that her father had taught her growing up because girls usually like it when a guy gives them their favorite flower. The blonde kunoichi ninja student mentioned the bush clover and cosmos being her particular favorite flowers as an example. She knows that her best friend, Sakura, loves the Cherry Blossom Flower 🌸, and recommends for Naruto to put it in a safe place on the outside where it can get proper sunlight, room to bloom, and plenty of water in order to keep the flower pedals from drying out. In conclusion of this instance, Ino tried her best to flirt with Naruto, "You know, if things don’t work out with Sakura, you and I can perhaps figure something out." Of course, Naruto prefers to be with Sakura more so than her. The young blond Genin still thanked his blonde ninja friend for her help and promises to keep his word as it relates to their deal. "There's no doubt in my mind that Naruto most certainly reminds me so much of a little brother who is trying to find his path. I wonder if Sakura feels the same way. I sure hope he gets the chance to bloom into something more." Ino laughs playfully while thinking to herself as she watches Naruto go to his apartment home before going back to her work station.
[The flashback ends here as Sakura is still gushing about the Cherry Blossom Flower that Naruto gave her].
"Aww, this is so thoughtful and very sweet of you. Oh my goodness! [Sakura gets a bit closer to her teammate as she gets ready to put a finger underneath the blond jinchuriki's chin in a romantic way.] You see, Naruto, you are not a so-called prankster like you keep claiming yourself to be. Instead, you are absolutely smarter than you think of yourself! This is something you should keep in mind for future reference, if you know what I mean? [Sakura gives a smile and wink towards the blond jinchuriki]." After kissing her new mutual partner on the cheek as a sign of gratitude, Ino gives the blond jinchuriki student a quick smile and wink of her own as she says to herself, "Good job, Naruto! I knew you could do it: dattebayo!" Now, all of these four young ninja warriors: Sakura, and the three members of Team 10 continue their travels to the temple in an effort to help Naruto learn more about his dad's legacy, Minato Namikaze.
...To Be Continued...